Summary Of Why Study Ancient World Cultures
In this day and age, similar to historical times, many people have taken on an ethnocentric attitude, the mindset that their ethnicity or culture is superior as opposed to others. In this modern era of globalization, encompassing the interaction and integration among different people and cultures, the push for being culturally diverse and understanding is important. Bill Hemminger, the author of the essay, “Why Study Ancient World Cultures,” argues that studying different cultures is important and necessary to better understand our own culture. Bill Hemminger states, “We must guard against the assumption that other people think as we do – or that they should” (Hemminger). Studying different cultures provides individuals with a highly valued
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cross-cultural competence, which provides the opportunity to be familiar with other cultures and the ability to communicate effectively, and to remain neutral and unbiased to other cultures. The idea of a socio-cultural difference in the history between the East and the West demonstrates to be of great historical significance as we observe and notice the impacts the early history of the East and the West has had on modern day globalization.
Going all the way back to ancient times, essentially, the divide between the socio-cultural differences of the East and the West is a result of the Greco-Persian Wars in 499 B.C.E., when some Ionian Greeks revolted against Persia. Persia responded with expeditions against the Greeks in 490 B.C.E. at the Battle of Marathon, and in 480 B.C.E. at the battle at Thermopylae, and the Battle at Salamis. The Greeks surprisingly defeated the Persians in both battles. While the Persians were unloading their ships, the Greeks were able to unite as a military unit and organize a sneak-attack on the Persians. The significance of the Greco-Persian Wars was that the Persians trumped the Greeks in population size and in wealth, by far, but the Greeks were able to win the battles, defeat the Persians, and regain their independence and freedom due to their tactics and strategy. Thus came about the idea of the East and West divide. The Greeks, in the West, specifically Europe, became associated with freedom, and the Persians, in the East, specifically Asia, became associated with despotism.
By this event taking place in history, we see that incidents like wars or conflict have the potential to cause splits between countries and people, and thus as each participant goes their separate ways, they begin to develop their own cultures and their own societies.
The greater effects of the war and conflict would have never been seen at that time. At that time in history, the future society and modern day culture probably wasn’t considered. At that time regions were more focused on remaining powerful. It shows that the want for power can cause many differences between a once unified region, and contribute to the divide growing larger in today’s time. Overall, there are essentially many factors that contribute to the East and the West divide, one factor being the Greco-Persian Wars. However, another one of the primary socio-cultural differences that really solidified the divide between the East and the West was theology. The ideas of religion varied across the East and the West and gave way to the Christian divergence and the Schism of 1054 C.E. that brought about the mutual excommunication of the churches. As a result, the Eastern part of Europe was now associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Western part of Europe associated with Roman Catholicism. So as we can see, the divide between the East and the West started very early in ancient history, dating all the way back to before the common era, but still is able to have lasting impacts today. Taking into account both the Greco-Persian Wars, and the Schism of 1054, the socio-cultural differences stand out as significant points of ancient culture in history that help us to better understand our culture
today.
To better understand our culture today, we have to question whether the history of the divide and separation between the East and the West is still relevant and what its impacts may be. The ideas of the East and the West being separated through cultural differences have just become more modern. It went from historically being about freedom and control of geographical territory, to becoming more about technology and modern day trade. The early origins of globalization derive from the creation of the Mongol Empire around 1200 C.E., to about the time Columbus discovered the New World in 1492. At the time, the Mongol Empire, created by Chinggis Khan, with efforts of stabilizing feuding tribes and clans, became known as the largest empire to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa. As the Mongol Empire expanded due to their well-organized military system, they soon ended around 1400 C.E., and left without a major cultural impact on the world. As the Mongol Empire came to an end, there was a rise in overseas conquest and exploration in Europe. In Portugal, Prince Henry the Navigator was credited for his starting of the Portuguese Empire and the Age of Exploration throughout Africa. Soon after, Vasco de Gama was able to navigate around Africa and discover a route to India. And then came Ferdinand Magellan who became known as the first to cross the Pacific Ocean and complete the first voyage around the world. The motivations of these explorers were naturally because of an intellectual curiosity about the physical universe. Christopher Columbus followed shortly after and was credited with discovering the New World and assumed it to be just islands. A man by the name of Amerigo Vespucci, giving his name to North and South America, was able to come after Columbus and map parts of the coast and realize the area to be two huge landmasses, larger than Eurasia, and not just small islands as assumed by Columbus. However, Columbus was credited with the discovery of the New World and eventually the Columbian Exchange came about. The Columbian Exchange included the trading of food, culture, and technology between the East and the West. Hence, the divide still being there between the East and the West as time progressed, but just through trading and exchange and technology. This socio-cultural difference and divide was able to be shown through the explorations and conquests, which contributed to the East and the West becoming interested in what each other had to offer. Most importantly, one factor through it all that showed a sense of unification was the cultural diffusion that was happening across the Columbian Exchange. The West was able to adopt ideas from the East, and vice versa. The idea of cultural diffusion is one ancient influence that has been able to transfer into modern day times and be beneficial to countries all over.
In modern day times, the idea of the East and the West is still relevant when we specifically take into account the relationship between the U.S. and Iraq. In Janice Terry’s academic article, “The United States and Iraq at cross purposes – a historic overview,” Terry argues, “The United States has historically sought to prevent the emergence of any strong independent Arab state with the potential to challenge the United States, and by implication, Israeli hegemony over the region” (Terry 337). This shows the United States ability to revert back to ancient times of division and difference between the East and the West in order to remain powerful and maintain control. In ancient times this was done through wars, and in modern times, it is often done through oppressive measures, all to keep one country more powerful than the other. Even through the modern era of globalization, even when it doesn’t seem as if the concept would remain relevant, the East and the West would remain divided because the East and the West, is essentially divided by geography, religion, politics, economics, and socio-cultural differences. They remain connected in a sense with their trade. Take the situation between the U.S. and Iraq for example, “As long as Iraq appeared relatively amiable to the United States and Iranian actions in the region, the Unites States was willing to maintain cordial relations with the Ba’athist regime in spite of its authoritarian and socialist stances” (Terry 338). Based on the article, essentially, the situation between the U.S. and Iraq is solely based on how they can benefit from each other, with the U.S., as the Western power acting in supremacy. The U.S. remained close with Iraq because the U.S. saw Iraq as beneficial to the improvement of the West. The West could trade and use Iraq as an ally and still be the dominant power. The further divide of the West and the East between the U.S. and Iraq comes down to the U.S. using tactics to oppress and control Iraq. According to Terry, “Throughout the 1990s, the Unites States sought to contain Iraq by preventing the reconstruction of its economy, military, and social welfare institutions. It kept up military pressure with periodic US-led air strikes and maintenance of the no-fly zones while attempting to overthrow Hussein’s government without being perceived as the direct cause of its destruction” (Terry 341).
As we can see, because of the relationship between the U.S. and Iraq, the concept of the East and the West divide is starting to mirror that of ancient times in which the West acts as a free nation, primarily focused on dominance and power, while on the other hand, the East is being oppressed and controlled. Even more modern day, we can take into account the relationship between the U.S. and China. In “The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can the Liberal System Survive?” John Inkenberry discusses how “Some observers believe that the American era is coming to an end, as the Western-oriented world order is replaced with one increasingly dominated by the East” (Inkenberry 23). This shows us that if a distinction was made to say the Western-oriented world and the East, then there most likely still is a divide because of some differences, thus keeping the divide between the East and the West relevant. Furthermore, this idea that China will surpass the U.S. shows us the East, once associated with being controlled in ancient history, is now becoming more powerful. It is a constant back and forth struggle for power. “The United States cannot thwart China's rise, but it can help ensure that China's power is exercised within the rules and institutions that the United States and its partners have crafted over the last century” (Inkenberry 37). This solution for the U.S. still proves the idea of a split between the East and the West and a need for control and power.
I believe the overall idea of the socio-cultural difference is something culturally constructed as regions become covetous and try to be more powerful than others. With the cultural mindset of dominance, someone has to win, and someone has to loose. It has been shown that over time, using the starting point of the ancient division with the Greeks and Persians, and then the division of the church, and then today’s conflict with the U.S. and Iraq, and the rise of China, the West has proven to value hegemony over anything. One side has to win while the other side is being oppressed in some shape or form. The instances in history between the East and the West greatly contribute to how we view socio-cultural differences in today’s society. If throughout history we have seen one region value dominance and value power based on their own beliefs, then the idea of ethnocentrism is passed on and we loose the ability to be culturally competent in interacting with and understanding other cultures. The past actions in history greatly affected the behaviors and actions of modern day society.
Being able to understand the socio-cultural differences in history, we can now better understand our own culture and the reason for today’s culture in modern day globalization. Bill Hemminger closes his article saying, studying ancient cultures teaches us to have “greater tolerance for others, greater humility for ourselves, greater love for our shared world” (Hemminger). This allows us to use the events of history as a lesson to do the opposite. In today’s modern era of globalization, we want to become more culturally diverse as a people and limit the unnecessary conflict based on ignorance of other cultures and greed for power. If we can get past that, we will be a world better off than we were in ancient times.
cross-cultural competence, which provides the opportunity to be familiar with other cultures and the ability to communicate effectively, and to remain neutral and unbiased to other cultures. The idea of a socio-cultural difference in the history between the East and the West demonstrates to be of great historical significance as we observe and notice the impacts the early history of the East and the West has had on modern day globalization.
Going all the way back to ancient times, essentially, the divide between the socio-cultural differences of the East and the West is a result of the Greco-Persian Wars in 499 B.C.E., when some Ionian Greeks revolted against Persia. Persia responded with expeditions against the Greeks in 490 B.C.E. at the Battle of Marathon, and in 480 B.C.E. at the battle at Thermopylae, and the Battle at Salamis. The Greeks surprisingly defeated the Persians in both battles. While the Persians were unloading their ships, the Greeks were able to unite as a military unit and organize a sneak-attack on the Persians. The significance of the Greco-Persian Wars was that the Persians trumped the Greeks in population size and in wealth, by far, but the Greeks were able to win the battles, defeat the Persians, and regain their independence and freedom due to their tactics and strategy. Thus came about the idea of the East and West divide. The Greeks, in the West, specifically Europe, became associated with freedom, and the Persians, in the East, specifically Asia, became associated with despotism.
By this event taking place in history, we see that incidents like wars or conflict have the potential to cause splits between countries and people, and thus as each participant goes their separate ways, they begin to develop their own cultures and their own societies.
The greater effects of the war and conflict would have never been seen at that time. At that time in history, the future society and modern day culture probably wasn’t considered. At that time regions were more focused on remaining powerful. It shows that the want for power can cause many differences between a once unified region, and contribute to the divide growing larger in today’s time. Overall, there are essentially many factors that contribute to the East and the West divide, one factor being the Greco-Persian Wars. However, another one of the primary socio-cultural differences that really solidified the divide between the East and the West was theology. The ideas of religion varied across the East and the West and gave way to the Christian divergence and the Schism of 1054 C.E. that brought about the mutual excommunication of the churches. As a result, the Eastern part of Europe was now associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Western part of Europe associated with Roman Catholicism. So as we can see, the divide between the East and the West started very early in ancient history, dating all the way back to before the common era, but still is able to have lasting impacts today. Taking into account both the Greco-Persian Wars, and the Schism of 1054, the socio-cultural differences stand out as significant points of ancient culture in history that help us to better understand our culture
today.
To better understand our culture today, we have to question whether the history of the divide and separation between the East and the West is still relevant and what its impacts may be. The ideas of the East and the West being separated through cultural differences have just become more modern. It went from historically being about freedom and control of geographical territory, to becoming more about technology and modern day trade. The early origins of globalization derive from the creation of the Mongol Empire around 1200 C.E., to about the time Columbus discovered the New World in 1492. At the time, the Mongol Empire, created by Chinggis Khan, with efforts of stabilizing feuding tribes and clans, became known as the largest empire to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa. As the Mongol Empire expanded due to their well-organized military system, they soon ended around 1400 C.E., and left without a major cultural impact on the world. As the Mongol Empire came to an end, there was a rise in overseas conquest and exploration in Europe. In Portugal, Prince Henry the Navigator was credited for his starting of the Portuguese Empire and the Age of Exploration throughout Africa. Soon after, Vasco de Gama was able to navigate around Africa and discover a route to India. And then came Ferdinand Magellan who became known as the first to cross the Pacific Ocean and complete the first voyage around the world. The motivations of these explorers were naturally because of an intellectual curiosity about the physical universe. Christopher Columbus followed shortly after and was credited with discovering the New World and assumed it to be just islands. A man by the name of Amerigo Vespucci, giving his name to North and South America, was able to come after Columbus and map parts of the coast and realize the area to be two huge landmasses, larger than Eurasia, and not just small islands as assumed by Columbus. However, Columbus was credited with the discovery of the New World and eventually the Columbian Exchange came about. The Columbian Exchange included the trading of food, culture, and technology between the East and the West. Hence, the divide still being there between the East and the West as time progressed, but just through trading and exchange and technology. This socio-cultural difference and divide was able to be shown through the explorations and conquests, which contributed to the East and the West becoming interested in what each other had to offer. Most importantly, one factor through it all that showed a sense of unification was the cultural diffusion that was happening across the Columbian Exchange. The West was able to adopt ideas from the East, and vice versa. The idea of cultural diffusion is one ancient influence that has been able to transfer into modern day times and be beneficial to countries all over.
In modern day times, the idea of the East and the West is still relevant when we specifically take into account the relationship between the U.S. and Iraq. In Janice Terry’s academic article, “The United States and Iraq at cross purposes – a historic overview,” Terry argues, “The United States has historically sought to prevent the emergence of any strong independent Arab state with the potential to challenge the United States, and by implication, Israeli hegemony over the region” (Terry 337). This shows the United States ability to revert back to ancient times of division and difference between the East and the West in order to remain powerful and maintain control. In ancient times this was done through wars, and in modern times, it is often done through oppressive measures, all to keep one country more powerful than the other. Even through the modern era of globalization, even when it doesn’t seem as if the concept would remain relevant, the East and the West would remain divided because the East and the West, is essentially divided by geography, religion, politics, economics, and socio-cultural differences. They remain connected in a sense with their trade. Take the situation between the U.S. and Iraq for example, “As long as Iraq appeared relatively amiable to the United States and Iranian actions in the region, the Unites States was willing to maintain cordial relations with the Ba’athist regime in spite of its authoritarian and socialist stances” (Terry 338). Based on the article, essentially, the situation between the U.S. and Iraq is solely based on how they can benefit from each other, with the U.S., as the Western power acting in supremacy. The U.S. remained close with Iraq because the U.S. saw Iraq as beneficial to the improvement of the West. The West could trade and use Iraq as an ally and still be the dominant power. The further divide of the West and the East between the U.S. and Iraq comes down to the U.S. using tactics to oppress and control Iraq. According to Terry, “Throughout the 1990s, the Unites States sought to contain Iraq by preventing the reconstruction of its economy, military, and social welfare institutions. It kept up military pressure with periodic US-led air strikes and maintenance of the no-fly zones while attempting to overthrow Hussein’s government without being perceived as the direct cause of its destruction” (Terry 341).
As we can see, because of the relationship between the U.S. and Iraq, the concept of the East and the West divide is starting to mirror that of ancient times in which the West acts as a free nation, primarily focused on dominance and power, while on the other hand, the East is being oppressed and controlled. Even more modern day, we can take into account the relationship between the U.S. and China. In “The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can the Liberal System Survive?” John Inkenberry discusses how “Some observers believe that the American era is coming to an end, as the Western-oriented world order is replaced with one increasingly dominated by the East” (Inkenberry 23). This shows us that if a distinction was made to say the Western-oriented world and the East, then there most likely still is a divide because of some differences, thus keeping the divide between the East and the West relevant. Furthermore, this idea that China will surpass the U.S. shows us the East, once associated with being controlled in ancient history, is now becoming more powerful. It is a constant back and forth struggle for power. “The United States cannot thwart China's rise, but it can help ensure that China's power is exercised within the rules and institutions that the United States and its partners have crafted over the last century” (Inkenberry 37). This solution for the U.S. still proves the idea of a split between the East and the West and a need for control and power.
I believe the overall idea of the socio-cultural difference is something culturally constructed as regions become covetous and try to be more powerful than others. With the cultural mindset of dominance, someone has to win, and someone has to loose. It has been shown that over time, using the starting point of the ancient division with the Greeks and Persians, and then the division of the church, and then today’s conflict with the U.S. and Iraq, and the rise of China, the West has proven to value hegemony over anything. One side has to win while the other side is being oppressed in some shape or form. The instances in history between the East and the West greatly contribute to how we view socio-cultural differences in today’s society. If throughout history we have seen one region value dominance and value power based on their own beliefs, then the idea of ethnocentrism is passed on and we loose the ability to be culturally competent in interacting with and understanding other cultures. The past actions in history greatly affected the behaviors and actions of modern day society.
Being able to understand the socio-cultural differences in history, we can now better understand our own culture and the reason for today’s culture in modern day globalization. Bill Hemminger closes his article saying, studying ancient cultures teaches us to have “greater tolerance for others, greater humility for ourselves, greater love for our shared world” (Hemminger). This allows us to use the events of history as a lesson to do the opposite. In today’s modern era of globalization, we want to become more culturally diverse as a people and limit the unnecessary conflict based on ignorance of other cultures and greed for power. If we can get past that, we will be a world better off than we were in ancient times.